Method of cashless gaming and player tracking

ABSTRACT

Methods of cashless gaming and player tracking use buttonless RFID technology at both gaming machines and gaming tables to transfer a predetermined denominated amount of credit from a remote network connected gaming account server to the gaming machine or table. Gaming machines have an Idle State, an anonymous credit state, and an identified credit state, each with specific methods for changing from one to another. Gaming tables have a keypad for the dealer, RFID readers at each seating position, and a transaction display visible to the dealer, the patrons, and an overhead security camera.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/214,923 filed Aug. 31,2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to casino gaming, and in particular to methodsof cashless gaming and player tracking designed to simplify and securetheir operation while eliminating the supplies, maintenance, and repaircosts associated with coin acceptors, bill acceptors, card readers, andticket printers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Casinos and gaming equipment manufactures continually strive to improvethe attraction of gaming to the patron while reducing the operatingcosts of the equipment. Operating costs include amortized installationcosts, operating supplies, maintenance costs and repair costs.

On the operating cost side of the equation, one of the more significantcategories is that of coins, tickets, bills, and their associatedacceptors, hoppers, and printers. Each of these electromechanicaldevices occasionally requires attention to maintain it in proper workingorder. Coin acceptors and coin hoppers can become jammed with bentcoins. Bill validators can become jammed with worn or dirty bills.Ticket printers can become jammed with paper debris. Optical sensors ineach of them occasionally need cleaning. Coins must be provided to fillall of the hoppers and back room hopper fill inventory requirements.Personnel must empty drop vaults and perform hopper fills on call.Ticket printers must have their paper ticket stock replenishedperiodically. Although the material and labor costs for any one machinemay seem insignificant, when a casino has many thousands of gamingmachines, the aggregate cost becomes worthy of attention.

On the attraction side of the equation, in addition to the attractivedesign of a game itself, casinos have long employed loyalty clubprograms to reward their better customers with perks, such as freemeals, free rooms, and free entertainment. Today, most casinos employone of a number of available player tracking systems at gaming machinesin order to both identify the patron and to record the amount, of thepatron's gaming activity. The hardware and software that implementsgaming loyalty club programs is commonly known as a player trackingsystem.

When player tracking systems first took root they used a plastic cardthe size of a credit card 10 with numerous punched holes 11, as shown inFIG. 1A. The holes 11 were read by an optical card reader, as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,304 granted December to Acres, et al. As theindustry progressed, the optically read card 10 was replaced by a card12 having a magnetic strip 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. More recentlyRFID technology has been employed for player tracking. An RFID (radiofrequency identification) keyfob 14 having an RFID inlay 16 with RFIDchip 17 and antenna 18 of FIG. 1C is used by Golden Gaming for itscasinos and pubs as a player tracking identification means. The keyfob14 is placed near a reader at a slot machine when the patron logs ontothe player tracking system to earn loyalty points while playing. TheRFID keyfob has no magnetic reading head to get dirty and intermittentover the course of reading thousands of player cards, and there are nooptical sensors to get dirty and intermittent over the course manythousands of player card insertions.

Ease of registration for a loyalty program is an important part ofattracting and maintaining customers. Patrons have come to the casinobecause they are interested in playing the games, as opposed to standingin a line to fill out paperwork for a casino loyalty program. A gamingmachine adapted to provide a method of registering a patron to a loyaltyprogram at the gaming machine wherein the patron or a casino servicerepresentative enters personal identification information for theaccount into a device on the gaming machine or on a hand-held wirelessdevice is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,618 granted May 24, 2005 toBenoy, et al.

Casinos and gaming equipment manufacturers have also worked to reducethe material and labor costs associated with the money involved ingaming machines. Initially slot machines were all coin operated. Inorder to reduce the labor cost of selling coins or tokens to patrons,bill validators were introduced on slot machines in the mid 1990s.However, with the subsequent growth in popularity-of the nickel videoslot machines hopper fills became a problem. When a patron feeds a $20bill into a machine and then later presses the cash-out button, theaverage patron will get a significant portion of that $20 bill inchange. That typically results in dispensing nearly 400 nickels and as aconsequence results in frequent hopper fills with heavy bags of coins,and furthermore results in frequent instances when a patron is forced towait ten to fifteen minutes for the hopper refill in order to get fullypaid when the slot machine runs out of coins during a cash-outprocedure. The industry solution to this problem has been to pay patronswith a barcoded ticket 21 of FIG. 2A which is printed by the slotmachine. The ticket 21 has a barcode 22 representative of an amount ofmoney owed the patron. The barcode and the amount are both transmittedthrough a network connection to a central server at which thatinformation may later be accessed. The ticket 21 may then be redeemed atthe next machine by a bill validator adapted to read the barcoded ticket21, or at the cashier. A slot machine having a bar code ticket printerand a bar code ticket reader to avoid having to use coins or tokens inthe operation of slot machines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,269granted Apr. 11, 2000 to Burns, et al. This technology has become knownin the industry as ticket-in-ticket-out, or TITO.

TITO was the first widely successful electronic funds transfer (EFT)technology for slot machines. Although it is a partial step towardcashless gaming, it really only goes as far as coinless gaming. TITOmachines still rely on a bill validator for the patron to initially putgaming credits on a machine. Furthermore, the industry standard means ofreading the barcoded tickets is through the bill validator. Truecashless gaming requires elimination of coins, bills, and hopefully eventickets. Although elimination of coin handling for gaming machines withTITO has had an important cost reduction impact for casinos, it has alsohad an inadvertent negative side effect on beverage service availabilityaround gaming machines. Patrons no longer have a ready cup full of coinsfrom which to offer the beverage server a tip. So, the incidence oftipping at TITO gaming machines has declined significantly enough thatservers prefer to avoid serving patrons at the machines in favor ofserving patrons at the tables where plenty of gaming chips are at handfor tipping. Casinos have been looking for a way to remedy this serviceproblem.

Attempts have been made to link together the player tracking accountwith a debit account to achieve cashless gaming. A cashless gamingsystem wherein a patron provides money and an ID card to a clerk andwherein the ID number and the amount of money are stored in the memoryof the validation terminal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,874granted Nov. 30, 1993 to Dickinson. The patron subsequently uses the IDcard for operating one of a number of game terminals which reads andvalidates the patron's ID card and then downloads the cash amount fromthe validation terminal. Upon actuation of the cash-out button theremaining amount is uploaded back to the validation terminal where itmay subsequently be likewise downloaded to another game terminal. Slotmachine manufacturer IGT markets a system with these features under thetrademark Coinless Transit. It utilizes a player tracking card as the IDcard and describes the system as a “virtual coin cup” due to the factthat the entire amount is transferred from machine to machine throughthe “validation terminal” account.

A version of slot machine manufacturer IGT's Coinless Transit systemuses a Smart Card 27 of FIG. 2B having contact pads 28 for connection toan embedded encrypted data storage processor in accordance with ISOstandard 7816. It stores gaming credits on the card and enforcestransaction limits. Similarly, slot machine manufacturer Atronic offersa system called Chip Cash that uses Smart Card technology. Funds areloaded onto the card at a cashier station or simply via the billvalidator of the slot machine, and may be cashed out directly from theslot machine to the card. The Chip Cash card may be personalized to alsobe a player tracking card with optional PIN protection. The advantage ofa Smart Card system is that it can operate independently of concern forcompatibility and licensing fees required for network connection to acasino player tracking account system since the value is carried on thecard and the card provides its own validation and security features. Thedisadvantage is that if the card is damaged or stolen, the value storedon it is permanently lost. A system fairly similar to both of the abovedescribed systems is being marketed by MaxeTag of Australia but insteademploys an RFID tag having writable storage memory to hold the gamingfunds within the RFID transponder chip in much the same way as does aSmart Card. In any of these systems, once funds have been transferred tothe gaming machine, there is no further link maintained between theremaining funds balance on the gaming machine and the patron's ID. TheID must again be present when transferring funds back off the machine toa remote account, and certainly of course, to a Smart Card or RFIDtransponder that is designed to be an electronic funds carrier.

A patron identification card having UV fluorescent qualities and an RFIDtransceiver that is linked to a patron's account on a host computer isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,035 granted Nov. 4, 2003 to Predescu,et al. The Predescu et al. patent discloses, but does not claim, that ateach game play the amount won is credited and the amount lost is debitedto the patron's account, thus allowing patrons to enjoy games withoutusing cash or tokens. Similarly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,328granted Aug. 28, 2001 to Holch is an account based gaming system whereinthe actual funds remain located in an account on a remote networkconnected server, a network connected gaming machine is enabled to playif the patron's account balance is sufficient for the desired wager, andgame result information is transmitted back to the account server wherethe account balance is credited or debited accordingly. Neither of thesedisclosures suggests any means or method for limiting display or accessof the patron's account balance at the gaming machine other than alwaysworking with the full account balance.

To address the problem of limiting the amount the access to fundsassociated with a patrons credit card or banking debit card account, agaming machine which allows electronic funds transfer to a gamingmachine requests playing credit in according to a limited preset amountnot controlled by the patron is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,983granted May 11, 1999 to Crevelt, et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,738granted Feb. 19, 2002 also to Crevelt, et al.

A coin shaped token for use in a cashless transaction having a memory, adisplay, a keypad and an RF input/output interface embedded within thetoken body to communicate with an electronic gaming device is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,591 granted Oct. 7, 2003 to Griswold, et al.Monetary value and transaction history is stored in the memory. Thekeypad and display provide a means for the patron to navigate a menu ofchoices regarding actions and amounts. A very similar device and systemcalled Easy Money, manufactured by Ardent Gaming and used in Isle ofCapri casinos, has an electronics funds carrier 23 of FIG. 2C with anLCD display 24, a keypad 25, and utilizes RF communication to transferfunds to and from a gaming machine. These devices in effect are like aSmart Card with a keypad and display. Just like the Smart Card, thedisadvantage is that if it is damaged or stolen, the value stored on itis permanently lost. Its more complex construction makes it inherentlymore susceptible to damage and places additional manufacturing costburden on the many electronic funds carriers rather than on the fewertransceivers in the gaming machines.

In addition to the methods of transferring credit for cashless gamingsystems previously described, still other ways of determining how muchcredit or value is to be transferred have been used in other markets. Afueling system capable of conducting a wireless transaction to effectpayment based on a patron's use of an RFID transponder to link to one ofthe patron's credit card accounts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,073,840 granted Jun. 13, 2000 to Marion. The amount of the payment isdefined by the amount of fuel pumped by the patron. The nature of thetransaction allows the amount to be unknown and unlimited until thefuelling is complete largely because it is a credit account and becausethe risk is inherently limited by the limited size of a vehicle fueltank.

Despite the considerable effort that has been applied heretofore towardsboth player tracking systems and cashless gaming systems, many importantaspects of such systems stand in further need of improvement,particularly when they are combined as a single system. While the priorart already has examples of the combination, the problems that remain inthe current systems include: a) magnetic strip card systems suffer fromthe simplicity of making copies, reader heads the get dirty and fail,and the requirement to leave the card in the reader during game playresults in many cards being erroneously abandoned when the patron leavesa gaming machine; b) RF tokens or keyfob devices with buttons and LCDdisplays are comparatively fragile and expensive, all value stored onthem is lost if they are lost or broken, and they do not provide areasonably economical path for the complete elimination of physicalmonetary media in gaming machines; c) the electrical contacts of SmartCard readers are at least as susceptible to reliability problems as aremagnetic strip card reader heads, and the laminated chip embedded in thecard is susceptible to damage through bending which can lead to loss ofall value stored thereon; and d) ticket-in-ticket-out systems are reallyonly capable of a single use for transfer of monetary value from onemachine to another, and they still use a physical media prone to paperjams and do require regular refilling of blank ticket stock.Furthermore, because card systems have not taken the next evolutionarysteps in design a) they either make the erroneous assumption that thepatron wants access to the full balance of the account at the gamingmachine or they require the patron to press buttons and navigate menuscreens to select the amount to access, or b) they have not developedthe requisite security measures to inherently identify and protect apatron's monetary value currently held by a gaming machine from thesurreptitious actions of a second patron.

As can readily be appreciated, there remains a need for furtherimprovement in methods of cashless gaming and player tracking designedto simplify and secure their operation while eliminating the supplies,maintenance, and repair costs associated with coin acceptors, billacceptors, card readers, and ticket printers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention a method of cashlessgaming includes providing a patron with an ID carrier having an ID codethat uniquely identifies the patron's gaming account, predetermining adenomination amount for association with the ID code, reading the IDcode at a gaming machine or gaming table, verifying that a gamingaccount associated with the ID code may be charged the predetermineddenomination amount, providing the patron with the predetermineddenomination amount of credit for gaming, and charging the predetermineddenomination amount to the gaming account.

In a second embodiment of the present invention a method of cashlessgaming includes providing a patron with an ID carrier having an ID codethat uniquely identifies the patron's gaming account on a remote networkconnected gaming account server. The gaming account includes both creditbalance and player tracking information. Reading the ID code at a gamingmachine or table automatically links play activity to the playertracking database and provides for electronic funds transfer.

In a third embodiment of the present invention for cashless gaming, atable game has a keypad for the dealer, an ID carrier reader at eachseating position, and a transaction display visible to the dealer, thepatron, and to an overhead security camera. When the patron presents hisID carrier to the ID carrier reader at his seat, the transaction displayindicates the seating position and a multiple of a predetermineddenomination of credit that the patron requests in playing chips fromthe dealer. The chips are counted and delivered to the patron and akeypad acknowledgement completes the transaction.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention for cashless gaming, agaming machine has an Idle State, an Anonymous Credit State, and anIdentified Credit State in order to properly treat the differencebetween anonymous currency and identified gaming accounts. Sets ofmethodical steps provide definition for transition from one state toanother in response to currency validation, cash-out requests, readingof a first ID code, reading of a second ID code, and various accountcredit balance conditions in order to protect the patron while providingsimplicity in system use.

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention cashless gaming methodsare shown for creating an instant anonymous account and funding theaccount from a gaming machine. An ID carrier is dispensed and an accountis instantly created when an anonymous currency using patron cashes outfrom a gaming machine. Patrons new to casino property can use an IDcarrier from another property to instantly create a gaming account at amachine without the need for any additional overt registration steps.

In a sixth embodiment of the present invention cashless gaming methodsare shown for providing a beverage server with a gratuity at a cashlessgaming machine by providing the server with a tip ID carrier that can beread at the gaming machine associated with the gaming account of apatron, and wherein the gratuity amount is authorized by the patron by asubsequent re-reading of the patron's ID carrier.

The foregoing and many other additional method details described hereinfinally provide for an integrated electronics funds transfer system andplayer tracking system, preferably utilizing the non-contact securetechnology of RFID, which removes unnecessary costs from the patron's IDcarrier without compromising security or simplicity in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top plan view, and illustrates a prior art player trackingcard having an ID code composed of a series of punched holes.

FIG. 1B is a bottom plan view, and illustrates a prior art playertracking card having an ID code composed of a magnetic pattern on amagnetic recording strip.

FIG. 1C is a top plan view, and illustrates a player tracking keyfobhaving an ID code composed of an RFID circuit with a unique serialnumber.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view, and illustrates a cash-out ticket forticket-in-ticket-out.

FIG. 2B is a top plan view, and illustrates a smartcard with an embeddedchip.

FIG. 2C is a front perspective view, and illustrates an electronic fundscarrier.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view, and illustrates a low frequency RFIDkeyfob.

FIG. 3B is a top plan view, and illustrates a high frequency RFIDkeyfob.

FIG. 3C is a top plan view, and illustrates a high frequency RFID inlay.

FIG. 4A is a top plan view, and illustrates a $25 denominated RFIDplayer tracking keyfob.

FIG. 4B is a bottom plan view, and illustrates a denominated RFID playertracking keyfob.

FIG. 4C is a top plan view, and illustrates a $5 denominated RFID playertracking keyfob.

FIG. 4D is a top plan view, and is illustrative of a $100 denominatedRFID player tracking keyfob.

FIG. 5 is a side plan view, and illustrates an RFID transceiver.

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view of the RFID transceiver of FIG.5, and illustrates interior components and mounting of the RFIDtransceiver relative to an apertured support.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view, and illustrates a slot machine.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view, and illustrates an RFID keyfob card assemblyin a breakaway holder having the outer dimensions of a standard creditcard.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view, and illustrates a gaming table.

FIG. 10A is a front perspective view, and illustrates a transactiondisplay.

FIG. 10B is a front perspective view, and illustrates a transactiondisplay.

FIG. 10C is a front perspective view, and illustrates a transactiondisplay.

FIG. 10D is a front perspective view, and illustrates a transactiondisplay.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram, and illustrates components for the gamingtable embodiment of the invention and the connections therebetween.

FIG. 12 is a system diagram, and illustrates the interconnectionsbetween gaming tables, gaming machines, and a gaming account server.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for performing adenominated cashless gaming transaction.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for transitioning agaming machine from an Idle State to another state.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for transitioning agaming machine from an Identified Credit State to another state.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for transitioning agaming machine from an Anonymous Credit State to another state.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for performing amerger of gaming accounts and display of a gaming account balance.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for performing acash-out procedure at a gaming table.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for cashlessoperation of a gaming machine where no funds are transferred to thegaming machine.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view, and illustrates a beverage servingtray having two denominated tip ID carriers.

FIG. 21 is a front plan view, and illustrates a gratuity selectiontouchscreen display on a gaming machine.

FIG. 22 is a front plan view, and illustrates a gratuity authorizationtouchscreen display on a gaming machine.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for cashlessoperation of providing a beverage server a gratuity at gaming machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Within the context of the invention description that follows, the termgaming machine refers to slot machines and their derivatives, includingthe mechanical reel types, video reel types, video poker, video blackjack, and various adventure games for gambling whether or not theyactually still have a traditional coin slot. The term gaming tablerefers to craps tables, roulette tables, and card tables for black jack,baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, and others. An ID carrier includes anymachine readable card, keyfob, button, or other device which holds an IDcode that can uniquely identify a patron, and more specifically apatron's gaming account. RFID transponders are also commonly known asRFID tags. The term cash-out button refers to a physical button, avirtual button on a touch-screen display, or other means by which thepatron may otherwise invoke a cash-out request. Although the preferredembodiment of the invention includes a bill validator, it isrepresentative of any type of currency, including the private currencyof sponsored tokens and coupons.

Within the casino gaming industry, customer loyalty programs arecommonly used in an attempt to attract and hold a casino property's bestcustomers. At the root of the customer loyalty programs used within thecasino gaming industry are the automated player tracking systems used inthe gaming machines, and the manual player tracking systems used at thegaming tables. The magnetic strip card readers used at the gamingmachines to read player tracking cards are not very physically practicalat a gaming table, and at a gaming table there is not the same kind ofconnection with metered wagering for the automated tracking of playactivity as has long been available in the gaming machines.

The preferred embodiment for an ID carrier is an RFID transponder. RFIDtransponders, such as the cylindrical keyfob 30 of FIG. 3A, have a longstanding record for quickly and securely linking to a patron's creditcard account to effect payment at the gas pump. This service is marketedby Exxon/Mobile under the Speedpass trademark. The keyfob 30 ismanufactured by Texas Instruments, operates at 134 KHz and has a 64 bitread-only serial number. The keyfob 31 of FIG. 3B, also manufactured byTexas Instruments and marketed under the Tag-It trademark, operates at13.56 MHz, has a flat internal inlay 32 of FIG. 3C, a printed antenna33, a transponder chip 34, and a 64 bit read-only serial number. The 64bit serial number provides over 18 billion-billion different numbers,enough for three billion per person on earth, and which is enough toensure there will never be two alike, at least not in the lifetime ofanyone alive today. These RFID transponders additionally have aprogrammable user data area that can be used to identify the sponsor andvarious application specific parameters. One of the primary reasons forembracing RFID technology is the degree of difficulty of counterfeitingit, especially when compared to the punched-hole plastic card 10 of FIG.1A. Even the magnetic strip card 12 of FIG. 1B is not even close to safeas magnetic strip card readers and writers have long been freelyavailable on the market to anyone so interested in connecting themtogether to make card copies. Even American Express and MasterCard haveembraced and have started to market credit cards with an embedded TexasInstruments Tag-It RFID inlay.

In addition to the aforementioned security value of RFID, otherrelatively important qualities of the technology include its low cost,its physical reliability, and the fact that the account value is notdirectly stored on it. When considering the economics of a systeminvolving very large numbers of ID carriers, much effort should beapplied to eliminating cost from the ID carrier, even at the expense ofmoving it into the ID carrier reader. Certainly this means eliminatingbuttons, batteries, and displays from the ID carrier, as are evident inthe electronic funds carrier 23 of FIG. 2C. While the cost of an RFIDkeyfob today at about 75¢ in moderate volume cannot come close to thecost of the printed ticket 20 of FIG. 2A, the printed ticket 20 is afragile one-time-use instrument. Thus, when considering the deliveredcost of a paper ticket, it doesn't take too many transactions before amulti-use RFID keyfob starts looking economically justifiable. Anotherpart of the cost picture relates to maintenance costs and indirect lostopportunity costs of intermittent equipment related to physical contactmedia. Eventually physical contact readers will get dirty, unreliable,and need some labor clock time for cleaning, adjustment, and possiblereplacement. Non-contact RFID thus provides the best balance of IDcarrier cost, operating cost, and security.

As previously noted, use of an RFID tag for player tracking is not a newconcept and is easily understood in operation. However, many logisticalquestions arise when attempting to use an RFID tag for electronics fundstransfer. In the previously mentioned application for using an RFID tagto pay at the pump, there is no need to for the patron to enter anamount to charge to the account as it is precisely defined by the amountof gasoline pumped. Also as previously mentioned, slot machinemanufacturer IGT markets a system under the trademark Coinless Transitthat utilizes a player tracking card as an ID card to electronicallytransfer game credits from one gaming machine to the next. The system isdescribed as a virtual coin cup because the entire amount is transferredfrom machine to machine. While this is another easy answer to thequestion of how much to transfer when the ID code is read from the IDcarrier, it is not very practical if one wants to place a few days worthof gaming funds into a gaming account. Not many people really want toempty their complete stash into each machine or as the buy-in at agaming table.

The answer to what to transfer from a gaming account to a gaming machineor a gaming table without the need to read menus and push buttons isfound by realizing that people of different economic means are quitesatisfied to classify themselves, for example, as a $5, $25 or $100buy-in category of patron. Thus when a patron registers with the casinofor an ID carrier, they can select their buy-in category and receive anID carrier denominated as $5, $25 or $100. The denomination value couldbe stored as additional information along with the ID code on the IDcarrier, or it could be stored in the gaming account on a remote networkgaming account server. Such an ID carrier may take the form of an RFIDkeyfob 40 of FIG. 4A having a product trade name 41, casino propertyinformation 42, and denomination information 43 printed on a front face.A back face of the RFID keyfob 40 shown in FIG. 4B provides information44 interpreting the transaction status indication of an ID carrierreader based on the illumination color of a sensing face of the IDcarrier reader, a signature location 45 for indication of ownership, anda help reference 46 to get further instruction on use of the ID carrier.The RFID keyfobs of FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate ID carriers denominatedin $5 and $100 respectively.

One of the ways in which a patron can acquire an ID carrier 40 is duringregistration as a hotel guest at a hotel-casino. During the registrationprocess, the patron selects a denomination amount for an ID carrier. Theclerk provides an ID carrier of that denomination, reads the ID codefrom it, and opens a gaming account for the patron associated with theID code. The gaming account is a database that may include a) patronidentification information, such as a name, driver's license, phonenumber, etc., b) credit balance information, c) credit transfer records,and d) gaming activity records for the loyalty program player trackingsystem. The patron can then elect to deposit funds for gaming into theaccount.

The denomination amount associated with the ID carrier can be stored inthe gaming account database, or can be written into an additional userdata area of the RFID transponder memory when it is factory configuredfor the application. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, thedenomination information is stored on the RFID transponder along withinformation to identify the casino property and information thatidentifies it as a patron transponder versus one of a service employeethat may use the same ID carrier reader to access the gaming machine fordiagnostics, maintenance or repair. Since the ID carriers reasonablyshould have printed graphics indicating the denomination amount and thecasino property, it makes reasonable sense to factory configure therespective ID carriers to hold the same information internally.

An RFID transceiver 50 suitable for use as an ID carrier reader for RFIDkeyfob 40 of FIGS. 4A - 4D is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, and is thesubject matter of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/214,922filed on Aug. 31, 2005 in the name of Scott Juds and is incorporatedherein by reference. The RFID transceiver 50 has a sensing face 51, athreaded tubular body 52 for through-panel mounting, a washer 53 and nuta 54 for securing the mounting, and wires 55 for providing power andcommunication with other system components. FIG. 6 illustrates themounting of RFID transceiver 50 through a table surface having a plywoodbase 56, a foam cushion layer 57, and a felt-like surface layer 58.Tightening the nut 54 against washer 53 on the underside of the tablebase 56 causes compression of the foam cushion layer 57 and thefelt-like surface layer 58 about a periphery 59 of the RFID transceiver50. The RFID transceiver 50 has a circuit board 60 having componentparts 61 and others for creating the RF signals necessary forinterrogation of the keyfob transponder and for interpretation of thecorresponding signals received. The RF signals are transmitted andreceived through a ferrite core antenna 64. The sensing face 51 of RFIDtransceiver 50 is illuminated by a multi-color LED 62 which emits lightinto a light pipe 63 for transmission through and around a ferrite potcore 64. The LED 62 is preferably an RGB type capable of producing anycolor desired through proper combination of the three base colors red,blue and green, and the relative intensity control of each. Thus, theRFID transceiver 50 can directly indicate to a patron the status of atransaction by the color of its illumination as detailed by information44 on the back face of the RFID keyfob 40 of FIG. 4B. Each icon adjacentto one of the transaction states of the information 44 is printed withits respective color. For example, IDLE (FIG. 4B) may be blue, ACCEPTmay be green, REJECT may be red, UNABLE may be yellow, TRACKING may bewhite, and NO SERVICE may be purple. The RFID transceiver 50 is designedto communicate via RS-232 and have the capability of replacing theRS-232 interface magnetic strip card reader currently popular in playertracking systems.

A gaming machine 70 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a machine basedenomination display 71, a bill validator 72 for accepting papercurrency, an RFID transceiver 50 to read a patron's ID carrier, a playertracking display 74 for displaying information about points beingearned, a credit balance display 75, a cash-out button 76, a dispensingtray 77, and various other customary component parts to facilitate thefunctionality of the gaming machine 70. Basic use of a patron's IDcarrier at the gaming machine 70 is described as follows. Uponapproaching the gaming machine 70, the patron observes the ID carrierreader 50 has blue illumination, indicating it is in the Idle State. Thepatron positions his denominated ID carrier 40 in close proximity to IDcarrier reader 50 wherein the ID code on ID carrier 40 is read. When thegaming machine has verified that the gaming account associated with theID code, located on a remote network connected gaming account server,has a sufficient credit balance, the denominated amount of credit istransferred from the gaming account to the gaming machine. To indicateacceptance, the ID carrier reader 50 momentarily changes theillumination of its sensing face from blue to green. If the patrondesires to have twice the denominated amount transferred from the gamingaccount to the gaming machine, the patron simply places the ID carrier40 in close proximity to the ID carrier reader 50 a second time. Thecredit balance of the gaming machine for game play by the patron isshown at all times in the credit balance display 75.

The foregoing conventional description of credit transfer from a gamingaccount to a gaming machine 70 causes a debit in the amount of thetransferred credit value to the gaming account and a correspondingcredit to the displayed credit balance 75 on the gaming machine 70 suchthat the transferred funds literally are present in the gaming machine.However, to accommodate the regulations of some jurisdictions, analternative embodiment of this transaction causes the actual funds totechnically remain located in the patron's gaming account, and thecredit balance display 75 to only indicate what portion of the gamingaccount balance has been authorized for game play on the gaming machine70. For example, if the patron's gaming account balance is $800 and thepatron reads his $25 denominated ID carrier 40 twice in succession uponarrival at an idle gaming machine 70, the credit balance display 75 willindicate $50 has been authorized for game play on the machine eventhough all of the funds remain located in the gaming account. If thepatron then wagers and looses $5 during play of a game on the gamingmachine 70, the credit balance display will indicate $45 of remainingauthorization for game play and a $5 debit message will be transmittedback to the remote network connected gaming account server where thecredit balance of the patron's gaming account will be reduced to $795.To the patron the operational difference is transparent. For thepurposes of clarity and brevity in the following descriptions, thistransparent difference will be referenced to simply as an amountauthorized for game play or transferred from the gaming account to thegaming machine resulting in a credit authorization/balance on the gamingmachine 70.

When the patron first uses his ID carrier 40 at the gaming machine 70and a denominated amount is authorized for game play or is transferredfrom his gaming account to the gaming machine 70, the creditauthorization/balance on the gaming machine 70 additionally becomeslinked to the gaming account, and thus also linked to the patron. Thepurpose of maintaining a link between the future remaining creditauthorization/balance on the gaming machine and the gaming account is sothat the continued presence of the ID carrier within reading range ofthe ID carrier reader is not required, thus allowing the patron to keepthe ID carrier secured in a pocket or a purse. While the creditauthorization/balance on the gaming machine 70 is linked to the patron'sgaming account, the illuminated face color of the ID carrier reader 50changes to white to indicate the linked state so that the patron knowsthat game play activity will be attributed to the patron and logged tothe player tracking portion of his gaming account. If the patron decidesto leave the gaming machine 70 while a credit authorization/balanceremains, the patron presses the cash-out button 76. Since any remainingcredit balance is linked with the patron's gaming account, the remainingcredit balance is simply transferred back to the patron's gamingaccount. The ID carrier 50 momentarily changes the color of itsilluminated sensing face to green to indicate acceptance of the cash-outtransaction, and then returns its color to blue to indicate an IdleState concurrent with the credit balance display 75 indicating a zerobalance. The link is terminated when the remaining creditauthorization/balance is cashed-out or reduced to zero throughexhaustive game play.

Certain precautions are required to protect the patron's credit balance,but these precautions should not have any adverse side effects on theoperation of the casino or the play of other patrons. For example, whilea first patron is playing a gaming machine 70 that has its creditbalance linked to the first patron's gaming account it is possible thata second patron could place his ID carrier 40 in proximity to the IDcarrier reader 50. The system must not simply just transfer additionalcredit value from the second patron's gaming account to add to thecredit balance on the gaming machine 70 and then change the linkage tothe second patron's account. This would constitute hijacking of thecredit balance of the first patron by the second patron, and couldhappen when the first patron was distracted from the gaming machine bythe perpetrator's accomplice. There are two parts to the solution ofthis problem. The first part of the solution is to reject the secondpatron's attempted transaction when the read ID code is different fromthe ID code of the current gaming account linkage. A rejection of an IDcarrier 40 (and ID code) is indicated by momentarily changing the colorof the sensing face of ID carrier reader to red. However, this part ofthe solution by itself creates a secondary problem. If the first patrondecides to abandon a machine having a trivial remaining balance linkedto his gaming account, that machine would then reject the ID carrier 40of other patrons who may later desire to use the gaming machine, thuseffectively disabling the gaming machine from use. In the second part ofthe solution, upon reading the ID carrier 40 of a second patron, a testis made to determine if there has been recent game play activity. If,for example, there has been no game play activity for at least fiveminutes, then the remaining credit balance on the gaming machine 70 isfirst returned to the gaming account of the first patron, and then thedenominated amount associated with the ID code and gaming account of thesecond patron is transferred to the gaming machine 70 and displayed incredit balance display 75. In both parts of the solution the firstpatron's money is protected, and an appropriate decision is maderelative to which patron should have control of the gaming machine.

The die cutting layout shown in FIG. 8 has an ID carrier 40 embedded ina retainer portion 81 providing a card assembly 80 with the overalldimensions of a standard credit card. The retainer portion 81 is easilybroken away from the ID carrier 40 by the patron after dispensing. Thereare numerous credit card dispensers available on the market, such as theCDT-200 Series from Vendapin L.L.C., that could be adapted to dispensethe card assembly 80. The retainer portion 81 can further serve to carryprinted introductory instructions to aid a patron's understanding ofwhat to do with the ID carrier 40. The CDT-200 Series dispenser includesthe capability to both hold or to fully eject the card assembly 80. Inaddition to the possibility of dispensing ID carriers 40 at thehotel-casino registration desk or at a kiosk, in the preferredembodiment of the invention a card assembly dispenser (not shown) isinstalled within the slot machine 70. The benefits of doing so includea) the elimination of coin and ticket handling costs and, b) providing ameans to cash-out a cash paying customer while gently converting them tothe use of the ID carrier. In practice, a cash paying customerapproaches gaming machine 70 and inserts one or more currency bills intobill validator 72 to provide a credit balance for game play. When thepatron has finished his game play, he presses the cash-out button 76.The gaming machine 70 instructs the installed card assembly dispenser todispense a card assembly 80 to the patron into the dispensing tray 77.In the process of dispensing the card assembly 80, the card is made topass over another ID carrier reader 50 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to read its IDcode. The ID code and the credit balance are transmitted to a remotegaming account server 120 (FIG. 12) where a new gaming account isinstantly opened. In addition to providing the new gaming account withthe credit balance from the gaming machine, the game play activity sincethe gaming machine last had a zero credit balance may also betransmitted to and stored in a player tracking portion of the gamingaccount.

Upon the automatic opening of an account associated with a dispensed IDcarrier 40 card assembly 80, a base denomination for use of the IDcarrier 40 must be predetermined. A first method of denominationpredetermination is to select and write this information into aprogrammable memory location within the RFID transponder chip 34 of FIG.3C prior to loading the ID carriers 40 into the dispenser. Thepredetermined denomination may be associated with the base wageringdenomination of a gaming machine. A casino may decide, for example, that$5 predetermined denomination ID carriers should be used in gamingmachines 70 having a base wager denomination of $1 and under and that a$25 predetermined denomination should be used for gaming machines with abase wagering denomination of $5 and $10, etcetera. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the predetermined denomination is aninteger multiple, between one and one hundred, of the base wageringdenomination of the gaming machine. A second method of denominationpredetermination is to have the gaming machine automatically report itsbase wagering denomination when transmitting information to the remotegaming account server 120 to open the account. The gaming account servercan then set the predetermined denomination to an integer multiple,between one and one hundred, of the base wagering denomination of thegaming machine. A third method of denomination predetermination is toselect from a menu a default value for use as the predetermineddenomination. The menu selection may be made from a setup menu availableon the gaming machine or on the gaming account server. Finally, a fourthmethod of denomination predetermination is to ask the patron to enterthis information at the gaming machine when the ID carrier is dispensed.The patron may also be asked to select a PIN number for use with theaccount at that time.

Use of the ID carrier at a gaming table 90 (FIG. 9) is quite similar,but includes some additional steps required to accommodate the humandealer involved in the transaction. The gaming table 90 has a playingsurface 91, an elbow rest 92, a chip tray 93, table chips 94 of avariety of denominations sorted by tray column, card position markers 95at each seating location indicating where cards will be dealt, IDcarrier readers 50 at each patron seating location (unnumbered), dealerkeypad 97, ID carrier reader 98 for large transaction approval by a pitsupervisor, and a transaction display 100. The transaction display 100,also shown in FIGS. 10A-10D, is designed to provide visual confirmationto the patron, the dealer, and an overhead security camera. This can beaccomplished by both having a vertical facing display 101 and a forwardfacing display 102 (FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B) or a single back-tilteddisplay 104 that can simultaneously be viewed and provide confirmationto all parties. Preferably the display is tilted back from verticalbetween 30 and 60 degrees, although angles as low as 20 degrees wouldstill provide a sufficiently readable display for the overhead securitycamera. Transaction display 100 is positioned on a pedestal 103 on theleft side corner of the gaming table 90 where an engraved sign isusually posted to indicate the name of the game played at the table andthe minimum and maximum wager.

When a patron arrives at gaming table 90 and wishes to buy-in, thepatron places his ID carrier 40 in proximity to the ID carrier reader50. The ID code is read, the gaming account credit balance and thepredetermined denomination are checked against the minimum wagerrequirements to authorize a transaction. If the requirements are met,the sensing face of the ID carrier reader 50 will momentarily changecolor to green to indicate acceptance and the preset denominated amountwill appear on transaction display 100 along with the seat number of thepatron making the transaction. Each time the patron repeats bringing hisID carrier 40 in proximity to the ID carrier reader 50 the amount shownon the transaction display 100 will increment by the preset denominationamount. When the patron has completed incrementing his buy-in amount,the dealer counts out the requisite number of table chips 94 in fullview of the patron and the overhead security camera. When the countedtable chips are ready for delivery to the patron, the dealer hits aconfirmation key on dealer keypad 97. If the requested transaction isover the approval limit of the dealer, then a pit supervisor must firstapprove the transaction by reading his ID carrier at ID carrier reader98. The need for approval is indicated by the sensing face of the IDcarrier reader 98 near the dealer flashing white until the ID carrier ofan authorized pit supervisor is read. When authorized, the transactionis completed by charging the patron's gaming account with the amount,momentarily indicating the confirmation on transaction display 100, andthen returning the display function to its normal passive messagefunctions.

When a patron at a gaming table desires to cash-out, he returns histable chips 94 to the dealer who counts them out for everyone, includingthe overhead security camera, to see. The dealer then enters the amountand the seating position number using the dealer keypad 97. Theinformation is shown on the transaction display 100 for everyone,including the overhead security camera, to see. If the requestedtransaction is over the approval limit of the dealer, then a pitsupervisor must first approve the transaction by reading his ID carrierat ID carrier reader 98. The need for approval is indicated by thesensing face of the ID carrier reader 98 near the dealer flashing whiteuntil the ID carrier of an authorized pit supervisor is read. Whenauthorized, the sensing face of the ID carrier reader 50 at the seatingposition of the patron starts flashing white to indicate that hispending transaction needs to be confirmed by reading of the ID code fromhis ID carrier 40. When the ID code is read, the amount shown in thetransaction display 100 (FIG. 10B) is transferred to the patron's gamingaccount, the transaction display 100 momentarily confirms completion ofthe transaction, and the sensing face 51 (FIG. 6) of the ID carrierreader 50 at the seating position of the patron preferably turns greenbefore returning to its blue idle color.

Transaction information is always displayed on both the vertical facingdisplay portion 101 and the forward facing display portion 102 of thetransaction display 100 for the dealer, patron and overhead securitycamera to see. The forward facing display portion 102 (FIGS. 10A and10B) shows information in a more verbose format than the vertical facingdisplay portion 101 in order to facilitate its intrinsic understandingat first glance. The forward facing display 102 can additionallyintegrate the function of the former engraved sign when no transactionis taking place, as illustrated in FIGS. 10C and 10D.

The block diagram of FIG. 11 illustrates the preferred embodiment of thegaming table system components and their connections for performing thefunctions of the present invention. A table system controller 110controls the information flow to and between the other components andthe network for access to gaming account information on the remotegaming server. The table system controller 110 is a module that mountsunder the gaming table and connects to each of the other components asshown. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the table systemcontroller 110 is an embedded microcontroller design executing firmwarethat performs the functions as described anywhere herein by text or flowcharts. One suitable microcontroller is the Freescale (formerlyMotorola) MC68HC705C9A having 32 I/0 pins, 16 K of ROM, 176 bytes ofRAM, and SPI port and an RS-232 port. Communication to each of the IDreaders 50 and 98 requires an RS-232 port which is provided in the tablesystem controller 110 through use of multiple SPI to RS-232 interfacechips such as the MAX3100 produced by Maxim Integrated Products. Thekeypad interface to the microcontroller is simply a direct connectionbetween the three column and four row signal wires and well known keypadscanning and contact debounce algorithms. One suitable keypad is themodel 88AC2 manufactured by Grayhill. One suitable transaction display100 is the Noritake's model GU140X32F-7000 vacuum fluorescent displaywith 140×32 pixel graphics display capability and a serial portinterface packaged in a suitable molded housing such as the 5.9″ by 3.2″transparent cover housing model 1591DTBU produced by HammondManufacturing. The network interface may be a simple RS-485 designrequiring little more than a transceiver buffer such as the LinearTechnology model LTC1335IN to provide the multi-drop functionality fromRS-232. The protocol will depend on the player tracking network systemalready installed in a casino, the details of which are known and easilyimplemented as the installation demands. The power supply for all of thecomponents can be provided by a pre-packaged and safety agency approvedmodule such as the 6.0VDC 500 mA model 318AS06050 manufactured byTamura. Further details involving the design of the table systemcontroller 110 or its connections are well known to those skilled in theart of electronic design.

The block diagram of FIG. 12 illustrates the interconnection of aplurality of gaming machines 70 and gaming tables 90 through networks115, 121, and 125 through network bridges 122 and 123 to a remote gamingaccount server 120. In a typical casino installation, a group of up to32 machines use a low bandwidth RS-485 multi-drop network 115 thatconnects to a network bridge 122 that functions to translate theprotocols between networks. Although interconnection of the gamingtables 90 into a player tracking system is both rare and incomplete intoday's casinos, the preferred embodiment of the invention requires anetwork 121 to connect each of the gaming tables through network bridge123 onto network 125 in order to access a patron's gaming account on thegaming account server 120.

The flow chart of FIG. 13 illustrates method steps of opening and usinga patron's gaming account. When a patron opens a gaming account in step130, a denomination for transactions is selected and stored either inthe gaming account database on the gaming account server 120 or may bestored in the ID carrier 40. In step 131 the patron arrives at a gamingmachine or gaming table where the ID carrier is presented for reading.Gaming tables typically have a minimum wager limit, such as $5, $25, or$100. Gaming machines also have a minimum wager amount which may varybetween 1¢ and $1,000. The read ID code and the minimum wager amount aretransmitted to the gaming account server 120 for approval. If the presetdenomination amount is stored in the ID carrier 40, it too istransmitted to the gaming account server 120. In step 132 it isdetermined if the minimum buy-in (or wager amount) is met. If it is notmet, step 133 is executed to indicate by color change in the ID carrierreader 50 that the system is not able to complete the transaction andends the process in step 139. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the color yellow is used to indicate the inability tocomplete a transaction for an otherwise valid ID code. If the minimumbuy-in is met, then in step 134 it is determined if the presetdenomination amount is available in the patron's gaming account creditbalance. If the preset denomination amount is available, it istransferred from the gaming account to the gaming machine or table. Ifit is not available, then the maximum integer multiple of the minimumbuy-in amount that is available in the gaming account is transferred tothe gaming machine or table. If any amount is transferred, in step 137the color of the ID carrier reader 50 momentarily is preferably changedto green to indicate acceptance of the transfer. Finally, in step 138 arecord of the transaction is saved in the player tracking portion of thegaming account.

The flow chart of FIG. 14 illustrates the method steps of transitioninga gaming machine from an Idle State to either an Anonymous Credit Stateor an Identified Credit State. An Idle State is defined as a gamingmachine having zero credit balance and no remaining links to anypatron's gaming account. In step 150 starting with the Idle State thegaming machine loops through steps 152 and 154 checking to see if an IDcode has been read or if a bill has been validated. If an ID code hasbeen read, the gaming account server 120 is checked for an existinggaming account associated with the ID code. If no account currentlyexists, an anonymous one is instantly opened for the patron and adenomination for transactions is assigned either by default or by patronselection from a menu presented on the gaming machine 70. A defaultdenomination may be determined by a preselected value stored in thegaming account server 120 for all new anonymous accounts, or it may be apreselected value related to the class of gaming machine that read theID code. No credit value exists, so none is transferred to the gamingmachine. However, the credit balance on the gaming machine 70 is atleast temporarily linked to the new gaming account and the ID carrierreader color is momentarily changed to green to indicate acceptance, andthen the color changes to white to indicate that tracking is enabled. Ifthe account is not new and there is no current credit balance on thegaming machine 70, then in step 155 the gaming account balance ischecked for a credit balance of at least the preset denomination amount.If sufficient credit is available, step 157 transfers the presetdenomination amount to the gaming machine 70, records the transaction inthe player tracking database, links the credit balance on the gamingmachine 70 to the gaming account, momentarily changes the color of theID carrier reader 50 to green to indicate acceptance, and then changesthe color to white to indicate that tracking is enabled. Finally in step165, whether the account was new or already existed, the gaming machinestate is set to the Identified Credit State.

At step 156 of the flow chart of FIG. 14 a bill has been validated andthe value of the currency is added to the gaming machine's creditbalance. A timer is set to a Timeout value after the validation of thebill. If additional bills are validated prior to the Timeout periodelapsing, the currency value is again added to the gaming machine'scredit balance and the timer is reset to the Timeout value. If game playcommences in step 161 or the Timeout period is reached in step 162 thegaming machine state is set to the Anonymous Credit State in step 166.This state indicates that the patron is a cash player and no link existsto any gaming account. If an ID code is read subsequent to billvalidation, but prior to the Timeout period elapsing, the credit balanceaccumulated on the gaming machine 70 is recorded in the player trackingaccount, credit balance on the gaming machine 70 is linked to the gamingaccount, the color of the ID carrier reader 50 momentarily changes togreen to indicate acceptance, and then changes the color to white toindicate that tracking is enabled. Finally in step 165, whether theaccount was new or already existed, the gaming machine state is set tothe Identified Credit State. If the ID code read did not have anexisting gaming account, one is first automatically created for thepatron in step 153.

The flow chart of FIG. 15 illustrates the method steps of transitioninga gaming machine 70 from an Identified Credit State to either anAnonymous Credit State or an Idle State. An Identified Credit State isdefined as the state of a gaming machine 70 wherein the credit balanceis linked to a gaming account associated with an ID code read from andpatron's ID carrier 40. If a bill has been validated during theIdentified Credit State in step 171, the gaming machine 70 will simplyadd the bill value to the gaming machine credit balance in step 173 ifthere has been recent machine activity indicating that the patron isstill actively involved with the gaming machine. However, if there hasbeen no activity on the gaming machine for some lengthy period of time,preferably in the range of at lest one to five minutes, there becomesdoubt that the patron who's ID code and gaming account are linked to thegaming machine is still involved with the gaming machine. To ensure thatanonymous cash from a second patron is not erroneously linked to thefirst patron's gaming account after having abandoning the gamingmachine, the remaining credit balance on the gaming machine istransferred to the patron's gaming account in step 175 along with theassociated player tracking information accumulated, then the color ofthe ID carrier reader 50 is changed from the white tracking color to theblue color. The gaming machine credit balance is then set to the valueof the validated bill and the gaming machine state is then set to theAnonymous Credit state.

While in the Identified Credit state of FIG. 15, the gaming machine 70is checked in step 174 to determine if the credit balance on the gamingmachine has been zero for a while, perhaps 15 seconds to a minute. Thiscan occur if game play on the gaming machine has consumed the creditbalance, or if it was the reading of and ID code from an ID carrier inthe Idle State that brought the gaming machine to step 181 where thecolor of the ID carrier reader is changed from the white tracking colorback to the idle blue color and the gaming machine state is set to theIdle State. Similarly, if the patron presses the cash-out button, thereaming credit balance on the gaming machine is transferred back to thepatron's gaming account, the color of the ID carrier reader 50 ischanged from the white tracking color back to the idle blue color andthe gaming machine state is set to the Idle State.

Additionally, in the Identified Credit State of FIG. 15, the ID carrierreader 50 may read an ID code from a patron's ID carrier 40 in step 176.If the ID code is the same one associated with the linked gamingaccount, the preset denominated amount is transferred from the gamingaccount to the gaming machine 70, and the ID carrier reader colormomentarily preferably turns green to indicate acceptance. Although notdetailed in this flowchart, steps 132 through 138 of FIG. 13 areincorporated herein into the meaning of step 178. If the ID code read isdifferent from the one associated with the linked gaming account, theaction taken is dependent on whether there has been recent activity onthe gaming machine. If so, the ID code is rejected, the ID carrierreader preferably turns red momentarily to indicate the rejection, andthe Identified Credit State and account linkage remain. If it appearsthat the gaming machine has been abandoned, the credit balance on thegaming machine is transferred back to the gaming account to which it islinked in step 182, then the denominated amount associated with the newID code and gaming account is transferred to the gaming machine 70, andthe gaming machine's credit balance is linked to the new gaming account.Although not detailed in this flowchart, steps 132 through 138 of FIG.13 are incorporated herein into the meaning of step 184. The gamingmachine 70 remains in the Identified Credit State.

The flow chart of FIG. 16 illustrates the method steps of transitioninga gaming machine 70 from an Anonymous Credit State to either an IdleState or an Identified Credit State. An Anonymous Credit State isdefined as the state of a gaming machine wherein there is a creditbalance but it is not linked to any patron's gaming account. In theAnonymous Credit State, the value of any bill validated in step 202 issimply added to the credit balance of the gaming machine in step 203. Ifthe cash-out button is pressed void of having read an ID code at aboutthe same time, then in step 212 the ID code of the next ID carrier in anID carrier dispenser is read, the ID code and the credit balance aretransferred to the remote gaming account server, a new anonymous accountis created to save the credit balance, the ID carrier is dispensed tothe patron, and gaming machine state is set to the Idle State.

If an ID code is read in step 204 or 208 and the cash-out button is notpressed within a short period of time, such as two seconds, the ID codeis rejected, the color of the ID carrier reader 50 is momentarilychanged to a red color to indicate rejection in step 209, and thenreturned to the blue color. The gaming machine 70 remains in theAnonymous Credit State. If the cash-out button is pushed and an ID codeis simultaneously read within that short period of time, the creditbalance on the gaming machine is transferred to the gaming accountassociated with the ID code in step 215 and the ID carrier reader coloris momentarily changed to green to indicate acceptance and then to blue.The gaming machine then is set to the Idle State. If a gaming accountdid not previously exist for this ID code, an anonymous gaming accountis first created in step 213.

The flow chart of FIG. 17 illustrates the method steps of merging twogaming accounts and displaying a gaming account balance. When a first IDcode is read in step 222, credit value is transferred from theassociated gaming account to the gaming machine 70. If the same ID codeis continuously read for more than about 2 seconds, the credit transferto the gaming machine is reversed in step 228 and the gaming accountbalance is displayed for the patron in step 230. If a second ID code isthen simultaneously read the gaming account balance and player trackinginformation from the second gaming account is transferred to the firstgaming account in step 237 if both ID codes are registered to the sameperson, or if at least the second gaming account is an anonymous gamingaccount. This provides a patron with a method of combining variousfragmented accounts into a single gaming account anywhere there is an IDcarrier reader without the need to wait in line at a cashier cage.

The flow chart of FIG. 18 illustrates the method steps of a cash-outprocedure at a gaming table. The patron first gives his table chips tothe dealer for reimbursement in step 242. The dealer counts the tablechips in full view of the patrons and the overhead security camera instep 244, and then enters the amount to credit the patron into a keypadwith the seating position of the patron (FIG. 9). Both the amount tocredit the patron and the seating number of the patron are displayed foreach of the patron, the dealer, and overhead security camera to see instep 246. If the amount is greater than the approval limit of thedealer, then an ID carrier 40 of a pit supervisor (having appropriategraphics imprinted thereon) must be read at step 247 by ID carrierreader 98 to authorize the transaction. The ID carrier reader 50 at thepatron's seating location then begins to blink a white color to indicatethat a pending transaction needs approval using the patron's ID carrier40. In step 248 the patron confirms the transaction by placing his IDcarrier in sufficient proximity to the ID carrier reader for it to readthe ID code. The credit amount and the ID code are then transmitted to aremote gaming account server. If there is no account associated with theID code read, then an anonymous gaming account is immediately opened forthe ID code. In step 254 the amount is credited to the gaming accountand a record of the transaction is stored in the player tracking portionof the gaming account. In step 256 the display indicates to the patron,the dealer and the overhead security camera that the transaction hasbeen completed. Likewise, the ID carrier at the patron's seatingposition first momentarily is changed to a green color to indicateacceptance, and then back to the idle blue color.

The flow chart of FIG. 19 illustrates the method steps for cashlessoperation of a gaming machine where no funds are transferred to thegaming machine. When an ID code is read from an ID carrier 50 in step272, the validity of the account and its balance are verified with theremote network connected account server 120 (FIG. 12) to ensure thepatron has sufficient funds with which to play the games of a gamingmachine 70. If sufficient funds are available to authorize game playwith the denominated amount of the ID carrier, the gaming machine creditbalance display 75 is incremented by the denominated amount to indicatethe game play amount authorized. When the cash-out button 76 is pressedin step 274, the gaming machine simply resets the authorized game playamount shown on the credit balance display 75 and there is no furtherneed to adjust the gaming account balance on the remote networkconnected account server 120. When game play has been requested by thepatron in step 276 and the remaining authorization amount is sufficientfor the wager amount selected, the game is played and a game outcome isgenerated as a result. If the patron has won the game, the creditbalance meter is incremented in step 294 by the net amount won and acredit memo is transmitted to the remote network connected gamingaccount server 120 to credit the patron's account balance by the netamount won. If the patron has lost the game, the credit balance meter isdecremented in step 284 by the net amount lost and a debit memo istransmitted to the remote network connected gaming account server 120 todebit the patron's account balance by the net amount lost.

One other important kind of gaming transaction is the payment of tips orgratuities to beverage servers from a patron's gaming money or gamingcredit. As previously noted, the advent of TITO for coinless gaming hashad an adverse effect on the beverage service level around gamingmachines because those patrons now rarely have any coins at hand fortipping the server. Thus the beverage servers have developed a naturalbias against spending time servicing the gaming machine areas and acorrespondingly opposite bias in favor of spending time servicing thegaming tables where table chips are readily at hand for the patron touse for tipping. However, a denominated tip ID carrier 302 (FIG. 20)having an ID code recognizable as being associated with a gratuityaccount on the same remote network connected gaming account server 120can likewise be used to manage cashless gratuity transactions betweenpatrons and beverage servers.

A beverage serving tray 301 of FIG. 20 holds beverages 300 anddenominated tip ID carriers 302. When a beverage server delivers anordered beverage to a patron at a gaming machine 70 (FIG. 7), the patronmay provide the beverage server a gratuity by selecting one of thedenominated tip ID carriers 302 and reading its ID code at the IDcarrier reader 50 of gaming machine 70 that is currently associated withthe patron's ID code and gaming account. Each time the denominated tipID carrier 302 is read, the gratuity amount is increment by thedenominated amount. For example, if the patron used the $1 tip IDcarrier and read it three times, the gratuity amount would be $3. Thegratuity amount may optionally be displayed on a numerical display suchas credit display 75 (FIG. 7) or a touchscreen display 301 (FIG. 22)that may be present on the gaming machine for purposes of actual play orfor other amenity display functions. When the tip ID carrier 302 is readat the ID carrier reader 50, the ID carrier reader 50 begins to blink awhite color to indicate that a pending transaction needs approval usingthe patron's ID carrier 40. If the patron provides the approval, then agratuity account associated with the ID code of the tip ID carrier iscredited with the gratuity amount, and either the patron's gamingaccount or the patron's credit balance on the gaming machine is debitedby the gratuity amount. If there is no approval within a predeterminedperiod of time, say 30 seconds, then the pending transaction is canceledand the color of the ID carrier reader returns to its former steadywhite tracking color. The block diagram of FIG. 23 further details theflow of the transaction just described.

An alternative embodiment to the foregoing utilizes the reading of anon-denominated tip ID carrier (not shown) to cause the display of menu304 (FIG. 21) on touchscreen 303 for the patron to select a gratuityamount from among those displayed. LCD touchscreens have become almostubiquitous on new gaming machines, either for purposes of game play orfor other amenity functions. When the patron has selected a gratuityamount, the patron is then prompted 305 (FIG. 22) to authorize thetransaction by re-reading the patron's ID carrier 40. If the patronprovides the approval, then the gratuity account associated with the IDcode of the tip ID carrier is credited with the gratuity amount, andeither the patron's gaming account or the patron's credit balance on thegaming machine is debited by the gratuity amount. Beverage servers thusmay now be provided a cashless tip by patrons playing a cashless gamingmachine.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of theinvention are illustrative only, and many variations and modificationswill become apparent to one skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction comprising thesteps of providing a patron with a gaming account and an ID carrierhaving an ID code that uniquely identifies the patron's gaming account,storing a predetermined denomination amount for association with the IDcode prior to conducting a cashless gaming transaction, providing agaming machine with an ID carrier reader, reading the ID code from an IDcarrier, transmitting the ID code to a remote network connected gamingaccount server and verifying that the gaming account balance associatedwith the ID code has at least the predetermined denomination amount,providing the patron access to the predetermined denomination amount ofcredit for gaming, and displaying the predetermined denomination amountto the patron on the gaming machine as credit authorized for game play.2. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according toclaim 1 including the step of storing in and reading back from the IDcarrier the predetermined denomination amount associated with the IDcode.
 3. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transactionaccording to claim 1 including the step of storing in and reading backfrom the gaming account the predetermined denomination amount associatedwith the ID code.
 4. The method of conducting a cashless gamingtransaction according to claim 1 including the step of reading the IDcarrier with a non-contact reader having neither buttons nor display forpatron interface during the cashless gaming transaction.
 5. The methodof conducting a cashless gaming transaction according to claim 1including the steps of debiting or crediting both the displayed creditauthorized for game play and the patron's gaming account balanceaccording to the results of a played game and the wagered amount, and,inhibiting game play when the displayed credit authorized for game playis less than one of the selected wager amount and the minimum wageramount regardless of the balance in the patron's gaming account.
 6. Amethod of conducting a cashless gaming transaction comprising the stepsof providing a patron with a gaming account and an ID carrier having, anID code that uniquely identifies the patron's gaming account, storing apredetermined denomination amount for association with the ID code priorto conducting a cashless gaming transaction, providing a gaming machinewith an ID carrier reader, reading the ID code from an ID carrier,transmitting the ID code to a remote network connected gaming accountserver and verifying that the gaming account balance associated with theID code has at least the predetermined denomination amount, providingthe patron access to the predetermined denomination amount of credit forgaming, displaying the predetermined denomination amount to the patronon the gaming machine, and maintaining a link between the gaming machineand the gaming account without the continued presence of the ID carrierwithin reading range of the ID carrier reader until the displayed creditavailable for game play is at least one of reset to zero by the patronand played down to zero.
 7. The method of conducting a cashless gamingtransaction according to claim 6 including the steps of awarding playertracking points during play of the gaming machine while a link remainsbetween the gaming machine and the gaming account, and transmittingawarded player tracking points from the gaming machine to the remotenetwork connected gaming account server for accumulation and storage inthe gaming account.
 8. The method of conducting a cashless gamingtransaction according to claim 7 including the step of changing anilluminated portion of the ID carrier reader from a first color to asecond color to indicate that an exclusive link is established.
 9. Amethod of creating and using a cashless gaming account comprising thesteps of providing a first gaming machine with a currency validator,validating a patron's currency to provide a credit balance on the firstgaming machine, generating a cash-out request on the first gamingmachine, reading a predetermined ID code from an ID carrier anddispensing the ID carrier to the patron from the first gaming machine,transmitting the predetermined ID code to a remote network connectedgaming account server, automatically creating an anonymous gamingaccount on the gaming account server associated with the predeterminedID code, transferring the remaining credit balance from the first gamingmachine to the anonymous gaming account, providing each of a pluralityof other gaming machines with an ID carrier reader, reading thepredetermined ID code from the patron's ID carrier at a second gamingmachine, enabling game play on the second gaming machine uponverification of sufficient credit balance in the anonymous gamingaccount, reading the predetermined ID code from the patron's ID carrierat a third gaming machine, and enabling game play on the third gamingmachine upon verification of sufficient credit balance in the anonymousgaming account.
 10. The method of creating a cashless gaming accountaccording to claim 9 including the step of automatically associating apredetermined denomination amount with the ID code upon creation of theanonymous gaming account wherein the predetermined denomination amountis displayed to the patron upon reading the ID code from the patron's IDcarrier on any of the plurality of other gaming machines so long as theanonymous gaming account credit balance is at least one of greater thanand equal to the predetermined denomination amount.
 11. The method ofcreating a cashless gaming account according to claim 10 wherein thepredetermined denomination is an integer number of one of dollars andeuros and wherein the integer is one of one, five, ten, twenty, twentyfive, fifty, one hundred and five hundred.
 12. The method of creating acashless gaming account according to claim 11 wherein the predetermineddenomination is an integer multiple, greater than zero, of the basewagering denomination of the gaming machine dispensing the ID carrier.13. A cashless gaming system comprising means for reading an ID codefrom a patron's ID carrier at one of a gaming machine and a gamingtable, means for associating the ID code with a predetermineddenomination amount, means for associating the ID code with a gamingaccount located on a remote network connected account server, means fordisplaying the predetermined denomination amount to the patron at one ofthe gaming machine and gaming table following a first reading of the IDcode when the gaming account balance is at least as large as thepredetermined denomination amount, and means for adding thepredetermined denomination amount to a prior amount shown by the displaymeans following a subsequent reading of the ID code.
 14. The cashlessgaming system according to claim 13 further including means to trackgame play associated with the displayed amount and award points to aplayer tracking account associated with the ID code.
 15. A cashlessgaming system for table games comprising means for reading a first IDcode from a patron's ID carrier at each seating position of a gamingtable, means for associating the first ID code with a predetermineddenomination amount, means for associating the first ID code with agaming account located on a remote network connected account server,means for reading a second ID code from a supervisor's ID carrier at thegaming table to provide transaction authorization, and means forvisually indicating on the reading means for the supervisor's ID carrierthat authorization is required to complete a patron's buy-in or cash-outtransaction when it exceeds a predetermined threshold.
 16. A cashlessgaming system comprising means for reading an ID code from a patron's IDcarrier at one of a gaming machine and a gaming table, means forassociating the patron's ID code with a gaming account located on aremote network connected account server, means for reading an ID codefrom a beverage server's ID carrier at the same one of a gaming machineand a gaming table, means for associating the beverage server's ID codewith a gratuity account located on a remote network connected accountserver, means for associating the beverage server's ID code with agratuity amount, means for approving a pending gratuity transaction byat least reading the ID code from patron's same ID carrier, means fordebiting one of the patron's gaming account and the patron's gamingmachine credit balance with the gratuity amount, and means for creditingthe gratuity account with the gratuity amount.
 17. The cashless gamingsystem according to claim 16 further including means for associating thebeverage server's ID code with a predetermined denomination amount, andmeans for incrementing the gratuity amount by the predetermineddenomination amount when the beverage server's ID code is read.
 18. Thecashless gaming system according to claim 16 further including means fordisplaying to the patron a selection of gratuity amounts in response toreading the beverage server's ID code.
 19. A method of conducting acashless gaming transaction comprising the steps of reading an ID codefrom a patron's ID carrier at one of a gaming machine and a gamingtable, associating the patron's ID code with a gaming account located ona remote network connected account server, reading an ID code from abeverage server's ID carrier at the same one of a gaming machine and agaming table, associating the beverage server's ID code with a gratuityaccount located on a remote network connected account server,associating the beverage server's ID code with a gratuity amount,approving a pending gratuity transaction by at least reading the ID codefrom patron's same ID carrier, debiting one of the patron's gamingaccount and the patron's gaming machine credit balance with the gratuityamount, and crediting the gratuity account with the gratuity amount. 20.The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according toclaim 19 including the steps of associating the beverage server's IDcode with a predetermined denomination amount, and incrementing thegratuity amount by the predetermined denomination amount when thebeverage server's ID code is read.
 21. The method of conducting acashless gaming transaction according to claim 19 including the step ofdisplaying to the patron a selection of gratuity amounts in response toreading the beverage server's ID code.